The preserved corpse of the Ripper Wolf was brought back to the base.
That evening, Luo Fei gathered his trusted team for a meeting.
As usual, it was held in the hall of the 36th floor ski resort. The barbecue grills were already set up, filling the air with the rich aroma of sizzling meat.
Tian Xiao stood by with a flamethrower, grilling wolf meat. Beside him was Liu Xuesong, who dutifully sliced the meat, occasionally sneaking a bite of the juicy, oil-dripping morsels. He animatedly recounted the day's events to the others.
"Oh, man!"
"You all missed a sight today."
"Tian Xiao was insane, chasing after Chen Wuling with those flawless shots. His precision was like something out of a legend. It was as if an ace pilot had come down to earth!"
"Stop exaggerating! How could it be that unbelievable?" One of the drinking buddies from the previous night sounded skeptical.
"Don't believe me?" Liu Xuesong challenged. "Ask Old Lu and Chen Wuling! Even the boss was there to see it!"
Liu Xuesong's loud proclamation drew everyone's attention. Luo Fei cast a warning glance his way.
"All this food and drink, and you still can't shut that mouth of yours?" Luo Fei's tone turned serious. "Tian Xiao's abilities are not to be discussed outside this room. If I find anyone leaking information, there will be consequences."
The room fell silent. Liu Xuesong immediately clammed up, and the rest exchanged cautious glances. Luo Fei's words carried weight, effectively confirming Liu Xuesong's claims.
Was Tian Xiao, a newcomer, truly that extraordinary?
Luo Fei continued, "Alright, listen up. Tian Xiao is one of us now. Take care of him. His talent is remarkable, and his potential is immense. Starting tomorrow, he'll begin solo patrol assignments."
"Understood," Tian Xiao nodded firmly.
"Now, to business," Luo Fei said, shifting topics. "Tower Control reports that a meteor shower will strike Zone C25 tomorrow at noon. Chen Wuling, take your squad to investigate. Confirm the number and details of the meteorites."
"Yes, sir!" Chen Wuling replied.
As the others focused on the briefing, Tian Xiao discreetly extracted the pancreas of the Ripper Wolf and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly. A few noticed but chose to remain silent.
Luo Fei turned to Tian Xiao with a reminder. "Meteor showers aren't uncommon, but they're unpredictable. You'll need to watch for any beasts that may follow the meteorites into our territory. Check for eggs within the meteorites to eliminate potential threats. This will be your first mission of this kind, so observe and learn. If you encounter any beasts, consider it a valuable experience."
Tian Xiao's talent hadn't escaped Luo Fei's notice. Despite his low rating, Luo Fei believed Tian Xiao's combat abilities and potential ranked among the top ten of the security team. His rapid progress suggested he would soon become a key asset.
"Understood, Boss Luo. I'll learn from Brother Chen and adapt quickly to the team's operations," Tian Xiao responded earnestly.
Luo Fei smiled. "This time, the Ripper Wolf hunt earned us a bounty of 5,000. Selling it will fetch about 40,000. Your squad of five will split the earnings equally at month's end. I'll hold your share for now. If you need funds, just let me know."
Luo Fei's generosity was part of what endeared him to his team, and Tian Xiao appreciated this quality.
"Thank you, Boss Luo," Tian Xiao raised his glass.
"By the way, the recruit you recommended, Zhu Xiaotian, will report to the security team tomorrow. Since we'll be occupied with the mission, let Old Lu guide her through the monitoring center first."
"Thanks, Boss Luo," Tian Xiao said, lifting his glass again. The room erupted in knowing smiles.
"Congratulations, man."
"Your new girl is way better than your last one."
"Let's toast to that!"
Tian Xiao shook his head with a wry smile and clinked glasses.
The gathering stretched late into the night. The nine members devoured half a Ripper Wolf before dispersing, fully satisfied. As usual, Tian Xiao headed to the 15th floor for his extreme endurance training, aiming to metabolize the mutant substances in his body. He increased his load from 50 pounds to 60, and after five hours of grueling effort, he felt his limbs tremble slightly.
Later, on the 12th floor, he rested and underwent a massage. Despite diminishing returns from consuming the pancreas, the results were notable. His muscle density rose to 12.9, and his reflex agility reached 12.7. His bio-energy index climbed to 164, pushing him from H4 to H6. The pancreas alone had proven more effective than a million-dollar H-grade enhancement serum. No one else knew of this discovery.
The next morning, upon arriving at the security department, Tian Xiao spotted Zhu Xiaotian filling out paperwork. She was being greeted by Old Lu, whose perpetually red nose betrayed his fondness for drink. Zhu Xiaotian's wrinkled nose revealed her struggle with his alcoholic stench.
"Tian Xiao!" Old Lu called out. "Take over. I need the restroom." Without waiting for a reply, he dashed off. Old Lu wasn't fond of dealing with "girls he couldn't touch."
Zhu Xiaotian's relief was evident. "Tian Xiao," she greeted, glad for the change.
With half a day remaining before the meteor shower, Tian Xiao saw no harm in helping her settle in. "Follow me," he said.
Zhu Xiaotian's demeanor had changed since her ordeal. Her words were few, her gaze wary and sharp. She seemed hypersensitive to her surroundings.
At the shooting range, Zhu Xiaotian's focus sharpened. Her determination was palpable as she quickly mastered four types of firearms, even clearing the hell difficulty mode for assault rifles in under an hour. She insisted on another three hours of practice.
Tian Xiao was convinced that if Zhu Xiaotian ever faced someone like Gao Chong again, she'd take him down with a single shot, no matter his rank. Her killing intent was unmistakable.
Later, Tian Xiao escorted Zhu Xiaotian to pilot training. By the end, her performance with aerial maneuvers stabilized at six targets per run—a passing score.
As they wrapped up, Old Lu's voice came over the radio. "Alright, Tian Xiao. The meteorite has entered the atmosphere. Send Zhu Xiaotian back. I'll take over from here. You stay put; Chen Wuling is en route to meet you."
As Zhu Xiaotian departed in Bluebird No. 38, Tian Xiao's radar screen showed the arrival of Chen Wuling and the rest of the squad. Together with Liu Xuesong and Qiao Dazhi, the four of them were tasked with investigating the meteor shower in Zone C25.